He'll wait until his 60s for that, when he can spend lazy days at a lake without a care in the world.
Now, at the age of 34, he's simply done playing professional hockey and moving on to the next phase of his life — one that is bringing him back to Mankato.
"I'm changing careers," he said.
To get to that next stage, Jackman has returned to his college-hockey home. He skated for two seasons at Minnesota State, 2000-01 and 2001-02, before departing for the pros and becoming the first former Mavericks player to make it to the National Hockey League. He played 14 years as a pro, including 483 games over 12 seasons with six NHL teams.
Jackman and his wife, Chelsey, bought a house in North Mankato and moved there with their 17-month-old son earlier this month. Next week, Jackman will be back in the classroom at MSU, finishing a degree in education.
He said he wants to teach and possibly coach. To get a taste of the latter, he'll also be working with the Minnesota State men's hockey team as a student-assistant on coach Mike Hastings' staff.
This isn't necessarily where Jackman expected to be a year ago when he was starting his third season with the Anaheim Ducks. He played two games for the Ducks, which turned out to be his final two as an NHL player.
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I was always a big fan of Master Jacker when he played here. His 10 goals in a goon role in 2011 was one of my favourite Flames players' seasons. Never afraid to back down from a fight. Best wishes to him in his retirement.
You get the NHL pension if you play 400+ games right? Looks like he'll be entitled to something given his 483 games played.
I don't think the NHL pension plan works like that any more. Players earn credit towards the pension for every game they're in the NHL (whether they play or not). There's no more magic threshold number like there used to be. A guy like Jackman has been around long enough that he should be getting a pretty decent pension payout.
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I remember how tough he was to play against in the first training camp with the Flames at Max Bell during a red vs white scrimmage and was legitimately excited to have his on ice presence.
Jackman was like the terminator on the puck. He never gave up, just going after it. Remember a few games where he played and his one eye was all bloodied up. He had heart and was good to watch, and brought a few surprises here and there. Wish him all the best in his new career.
I think he is a guy that did what he had to do to stay in the NHL. I don't think he liked fighting, but did it to stick around. he had a decent career and hopefully made a few bucks.
Wish him the best.
Always impressed when a guy goes back to finish off school. Good for him.
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I'm surprised to read he played 483 games in the NHL, good for him. And good for him for finishing off his degree and planning for his next career.
That's a pretty solid NHL career by any measure but more impressive when you consider he wasn't the most gifted player and had to work hard to get his ice time.
Tim Jackman retires from hockey
